Prime Minister Tony Abbott's unpopularity with Australian voters was recently proven by polls which forecast that he would not win in the 2016 election, while Opposition leader Bill Shorten has overtaken him as preferred PM.

Russia has been making headlines left and right recently particularly for its move on Ukraine. Vladimir Putin came in the news following the G20 conference in the Philippine and more talks about its nuclear program and Russian troops in Ukraine. Analysts also point out the disconcerting trend about Russian perspective and its confidence in its military technology and capabilities.